Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-08-04
THE CARE OF HORSES.


Hard.hips Innicted ON Hish-Bred AMI
mails by Ignorant Owners.
The horse has no judgment regard
ing what he may be able to stand, but
is a mere machine, constructed and
with nervous system organized.
toned and tempered as the breeder
may have ordered. In this way he is
placed beyond his own control, and it
is fair to liken him to steam engine
CONSTRUCTED and tempered with
view to great results. But, as in the
case OF the latter, common sense would
dictate that special attention should
be given to controlling agencies, as
also to the education of the horse, into
whose nature such measure of energy
has been bred as that he is like ma
chine without valves or brakes, liable
to run pell-men whenever fuel is put
into the furnace. Much can be
done with such an animal by
training. The habit of rushing for
ward. to his injury. may be, to quite
degree, prevented even without bar
barous curb bit. We have known
horse of the kind referred to, his ex-
traordinary energy and willingness to
go. under no restraint except when
held to moderate effort by severe bit,
to have piece broken out of his Jaw
bone. at the point where the pressure
is applied by curb bit.
These mettlesome, high-bred horses
are always liable to abuse when in the
hands of persons lacking in discretion.
When such an animal falls into the
hands of hard driver, his period OF
usefulness is very short From being
road horse of the higher class. it is
usually not long before he is relegated
to the lower order of work, and scores
of these once noble beasts may be seen,
in any of the large cities, hitched before
the ever-presentha hack or express wagon
worse than this. if possible, owned and
driven by brutal Italian, dealer in
old iron and rags, who is, as rule. a
scant feeder and a hard master.
These changes in many noble high
bred animal are so gradual that he is
entirely lost sight of by former owners
and others, who were made aware of
his good qualities, as he goes to the
man who wants what is usually termed
a cheap business or family driving
horse, and from a position of this kind.
getting into a low-grade horse auction
stable, thenceforward meeting only
hard usage, CALLED shoulders, expos
ure. and scant feed. 1t often happens
that not a littl. of the er ergy and free
ness to work. shown in former years,
crops out when the wreck of a horse is
put to low-class work. In this case
the only remedy against cruelty is
through its accidental discovery by an
officer of the law.
But hardships are practiced upon
horses while they are fresh and in first
hands; that is, first hands after having
left the breeders premises. With his
head drawn up too high by check,
the green horse is driven under this in
Fiction for hours together, the incon-
siderate owner or driver apparently
oblivious to the sufferings imposed. If
such an owner OF driver could expert
euce the agony of having his thumbs
tied to crossbeam above his head for
few hours with no more means of
relief OF relaxation than the horse can
and shoulders (for bear in mind that
his shoulders come in for no inconsid-
cradle share of the strain) are under
this severe tension, he would be able
to realize something of the torment
he imposes by the use of check
rein drawn too tight 1t is not the
mere act of drawing the head up by a
check that causes the suffering. but
the continuance of this strain for a
length of time. A man would stand
the strain of having his thumbs tied
above his head for Il short time with
out great suffering or Inconvenience,
but the continuance in this position for
hours would entail intense suffering.
Observe the horse lower his head low
down, following this by an alternate
elevation and lowering, when, after
an hours drive. he is relieved by un-
fastening the check. Observe, at the
same time, the indications of relief. as
show in the facial expression, evidence
that aches have been felt in the mus
cles and Joints of<zshe neck When
two horses are hooked together
and sold as a double team, be-
cause CUCf dI6 Sdiu W
it now and then happens that one
of the two carries high. naturally,
while the other is naturally low-head-
ed. Now, here is where a check rein
drawn too tight comes in with cruel
effect in the vain and useless effort to
to make the horses match in their ear
rage forward. No humane man, start
ing out with the proposition that he
must have pair of horses that are
well matched, would buy two mismat-
ed in the way referred to. because the
horses being otherwise alike, the up
headed horse will move offwith supple
ness and ease. while the other. strained
by the check, will show early weari-
mess, evidenced by tossing the head.
.straining the neck. first to the right
and then to the left, and presently the
whole body. limbs and all. wild show
WEAKNESS, in sympathy with the suf-
fering part = National Ltse-Stoc&
Journal.
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